Asshole steals bike that belongs to COVID-19 ICU nurse; neighbors offer to help; 'sad for humanity'

A conversation is evolving through several notes on this sidewalk bridge on 12th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B. (Thanks to Katherine Rusch for sharing the photo!)

The first note is addressed "to whomever stole my bike from this location."

It reads:

You stole it from a nurse who's been working in a COVID ICU for the past 2.5 months. This was my only way of getting to work without contaminating other people. PLEASE return it if you have a heart.

P.S. I hope you disinfected it...

A second note offers to help fundraise for a new bike for the nurse.

A third note arrived from someone else who had his-her bike stolen here.

I'm working from home and it was my only way of exercising. I can't believe these people are stealing from people who need their things right now.

It makes me sad for humanity but then I think about people like you. You risk your life daily for others. This is the biggest service to humanity. Thank you.

This letter writer also offers to chip in for a bike for the ICU nurse.

Someone stole this cargo bike

From outside 87 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue...

Good samaritan thwarts bike theft, leaves note

[Click on image to read the note]

Based only on anecdotal evidence, there seems to be more bike thefts around the neighborhood.

Here's a bike — described as an "attention-getting neon green and yellow" — that almost became a statistic.

EVG reader Randy Kato shared this note from East Second Street and Avenue A … attached to bike wheel still locked in place — without the rest of the bike.

The note explains:

"Some one tried to steal your bike — got it back from the fucker — (I didn't wanna go to the police because they make everything into an ordeal) … If you can unlock the wheel we'll know your the real bike owner — I left just left it in a nearby store — They're good guys."

Someone stole this bike last night

EVG reader Ted Roden passes along word that his "ridiculous bike (for hauling my kids) got stolen" last night from around East Sixth Street and Avenue C. Some time between 7 and 10 p.m.

As he says, hard to miss. So in case you happen to spot it … let us know…

A reminder not to lock your bike to a tree

Helpful reminder spotted on East Fifth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B last night. (You know what happens when you lock a bike to a tree.)

No word if this is the work of the esteemed East Fifth St. Tree Committee. Likely not, given the note isn't on neon pink paper. (Plus it's a different block.)

Photo by Robert Sietsema via Twitter

Previously on EV Grieve:
In the newest installment of how to steal a bike and destroy a tree in the East Village

In the newest installment of how to steal a bike and destroy a tree in the East Village

An EVG reader who lives on East Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B shared this story about a young tree on the south side of the street … late Saturday night, "there was still a living tree there, and a bike stupidly locked to it."

And then yesterday morning?

The tree was basically snapped and half… and the bike was gone…



"Unbelievable; that tree was doing so well until someone thought it was a good idea to destroy it to steal an old bike," said the reader. "What an awful loss to our block."

Resident offers $50 for the return of stolen bike wheel on East 10th Street

Spotted on East 10th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue late yesterday afternoon...

A bike was stolen here yesterday afternoon on Avenue B

Avenue B between East Sixth Street and East Seventh Street...

Bike stolen from 'broke student'

Spotted on Avenue C and East Second Street...